Snopper--the snoring stopper anti-snoring mouth device

ABSTRACT

A novel medical device, SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device, is inserted into the mouth. The device comprises a denture-like(10) apparatus for supporting electrodes(12) in such a manner that the electrodes make contact with the roof of the mouth. Electrical stimulation induces contraction of relaxed muscles, thereby preventing or stopping snoring. Electrical energy is provided to the device via wires for connection to an external stimulator(16) or via a self-contained, battery-powered, microminiaturized electronic stimulator(20). Stimulation can be constant or intermittent. Wave shape, . .amplitutde.!. .Iadd.amplitude.Iaddend., length, and frequency is controlled by the individual for comfort and is automatically induced via a feedback mechanism.

BACKGROUND

1. Field of Invention

This invention generally relates to medical devices, and moreparticularly to a novel device inserted into the mouth to prevent orstop snoring.

2. Description of Prior Art

Snoring.Iadd., including the most severe forms of snoring such asobstructive sleep apnea, .Iaddend.is caused, in part, by relaxation ofmuscles during respiration while asleep. Various devices have beenintroduced to alleviate snoring. One device (U.S. Pat. No. 4,669,459 toSpiewak, 1987) provides pressure to the muscles, and another (U.S. Pat.No. 4,901,737 to Toone, 1990) provides an open mouth position. Otherdevices attempt to keep the tongue protruded, for example, the Samelsonand Gardy devices, NJ Medicine, Vol. 88 No. 11 Nov. 1991. Still otherdevices (such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,644,330 to Dowling, 1987 and U.S. Pat.No. 4,788,533 to Mequignon, 1988) attempt to stop snoring by soundfeedback. One device, U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,010 to Crossley, 1969)provides electrodes that attach to the skin of the neck via a neck bandto shock the sleeper and condition him against snoring. One device,(U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,506 to Liberati, 1991) attempts to train themuscles to prevent snoring. Continuous positive air pressure breathingdevices (U.S. Pat. No. 4,944,310 to Sullivan, 1990) and surgery arecurrently used to treat severe snoring and obstructive sleep apnea.

OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES

SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device provideselectrical stimulation to the muscles of the mouth, from inside themouth, to induce contraction and tension of relaxed muscles, therebyeliminating snoring.

SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device allows fordirect action to the muscles. There is no need for retraining ofmuscles, sound feedback, sleep interruption, or abnormal mouth positionsor tongue protrusion positions.

SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device obviates theneed for continuous positive air pressure breathing devices or surgery.

SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device can beconfigured as a self-contained battery-powered system that deliverselectrical stimulation that can be adjusted for individual comfort.

DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective drawing of a SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™anti-snoring mouth device.

FIG. 2 is a plan view drawing of SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™anti-snoring mouth device.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™anti-snoring mouth device with .Iadd.a .Iaddend.self-contained,battery-powered, microminiaturized electronic stimulator.

DESCRIPTION OF FIGS. 1-3

A typical embodiment of my invention SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™anti-snoring mouth device is illustrated in FIG. 1 (perspective view)and FIG. 2 (plan view). Electrodes(12), which are supported by a moldeddenture-like device(10), make contact with the roof of the mouth.Iadd.,e.g., the hard palate, soft palate or upper nasal oral pharynx. Theelectrodes can be made of any conventional electroconductive material,including electroconductive rubber.Iaddend.. The electrodes(12) areconnected to internal wires(14), which are connected to externalwires(16). The external wires(16) are connected to an external source ofenergy(18).

The plan view in FIG. 3 shows the device(10) alternatively constructedso that the internal wires(14). .,.!. are in turn connected to abattery-powered(24), switched(22), microminiaturized electronicstimulator unit(20).

OPERATION OF INVENTION

It is believed that snoring is caused, in part, by the relaxation ofmuscles during respiration while asleep. My SNOPPER--The SnoringStopper™ anti-snoring mouth device. .,.!. provides energized electrodesfor delivering electrical stimulation. This stimulation inducescontraction and tension of relaxed muscles thereby preventing orstopping snoring.

Electrical energy(18) is delivered to device(10) via external wires(16),transferred via internal wires(14) to electrodes(12). The energizedelectrodes induce contraction of muscles. Also, the electricalstimulation can induce rhythmic contraction waves that interfere withsnoring rhythms. The device can be configured with a feedback mechanism(not shown) whereby snoring causes the onset of electrical stimulation.

Electrical energy can be provided via commercial transcutaneous electricnerve stimulator units (such as U.S. Pat. No. 4,949,721 to Toriu, 1990,or, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,710 to Lee, 1991) attached to the wires(16).Alternatively, electrical energy can be provided via self-contained,battery-powered, microminiaturized stimulator units within SNOPPER--TheSnoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device (FIG. 3); in this case, thedevice user controls and adjusts wave shape, amplitude, length, andfrequency of the electrical stimulation, which can be intermittent orconstant.

SUMMARY

SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouth device with built-inelectrodes is inserted into the mouth for electromuscular stimulation,inducing muscle contraction and tension, thereby preventing or stoppingsnoring. Electrical stimulation can be provided via connections to.Iadd.an .Iaddend.external source or via a self-contained,battery-powered, microminiaturized electronic unit. Electricalstimulation can be constant or intermittent, using .Iadd.any of.Iaddend.a variety of wave forms, . .amplitude.!..Iadd.amplitudes.Iaddend., . .length.!. .Iadd.lengths.Iaddend., and ..frequency.!. .Iadd.frequencies .Iaddend.as required for individualcomfort. The device itself and its electrodes can be made in a varietyof shapes and .Iadd.with a variety of .Iaddend.materials.

Conclusions, Ramifications and Scope of Invention

The novel use of electrodes within a denture-like plate or otherapparatus makes a SNOPPER--The Snoring Stopper™ anti-snoring mouthdevice beneficial. While the above description contains manyspecificities, these should not be construed as limitations on the scopeof the invention, but rather as an exemplification of two preferredembodiments thereof. Many other variations are possible. For example,electrodes could be installed permanently through or between the teeth,or stimulation in this area can be prolonged to induce a beneficial longterm hypotensive response. Accordingly, the scope of the inventionshould be determined not by the embodiments illustrated, but by theappended claims and their legal equivalents.

I claim: . .1. An apparatus for the cessation of snoring, wherein saidapparatus comprises: material..!.. .4. An apparatus of claim 1, whereinsaid energy means comprises:internal wires implanted within saidmouthpiece; external wires connected to said internal wires; and anexternal energy source connected to said external wires..!..Iadd.5. Anelectromuscular stimulator for providing electrical stimulation to themuscles of the mouth of a patient to induce tension and contraction ofrelaxed muscles comprising:positioning means for insertion in thepatient's mouth and providing surfaces for contacting a mouth roof;electrode means, disposed on said positioning means, for makingelectrical contact with the mouth roof; and energy means for supplyingelectrical energy to said electrode means. .Iaddend..Iadd.6. Theelectromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein said positioning meansincludes means for fitting over at least a portion of a tooth plate..Iaddend..Iadd.7. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5, whereinsaid positioning means includes means for fitting over an entire toothplate. .Iaddend..Iadd.8. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5,wherein said positioning means includes means for fitting over at leasta portion of an upper tooth plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.9. The electromuscularstimulator of claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes means forfitting over an entire upper tooth place. .Iaddend..Iadd.10. Theelectromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein said energy means is amicrominiaturized stimulation unit implanted within said positioningmeans. .Iaddend..Iadd.11. The electromuscular stimulator of claim 10,further comprising a battery for powering said microminiaturizedstimulation unit. .Iaddend..Iadd.12. The electromuscular stimulator ofclaim 5, wherein said electrode means comprises an electroconductiverubber-like material. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. The electromuscular stimulatorof claim 5, wherein said energy means comprises:at least one internalwire implanted within said positioning means; at least one external wireconnected to said at least one internal wire; and an external energysource connected to said at least one external wire. .Iaddend..Iadd.14.The electromuscular stimulator of claim 5, wherein the positioning meanscomprises a denture-like plate. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. The electromuscularstimulator of claim 5, wherein the positioning means comprises a moldeddevice. .Iaddend.